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By JAMES GREGA JR.
August 16, 2016
As the countdown to Ohio State's season opener against Bowling Green gets closer, the Buckeye Sports staff is continuing its Best Buckeye Ever series. We stand just 19 days from kickoff, so it is time to reveal our pick for the Best Buckeye Ever to don that number.
We are just 19 days until kickoff in Ohio Stadium and the countdown to kickoff continues with our Best Buckeye Ever series. At No. 19, we had a tough time deciding between two very impressive Ohio State careers but ultimately we decided on one.
First, we will discuss our runner-up, Ahmed Plummer. Plummer graced the Ohio State secondary from 1996-99 and played a big part in the Buckeyes resurgence in the mid to late 1990's.
In his four years, Plummer amassed 14 interceptions, which ranks sixth in Ohio State history. Perhaps his best statistical season came in 1998, when he broke up 17 passes which at the time was most in school history in a single season. That number would later be tied by Bradley Roby in 2012. Plummer also ranks second in school history in career pass break ups with 34, just two behind Roby's 36.
Plummer was a three year starter with his senior campaign raking in the honors. He was a first team all-Big Ten selection, team MVP and a team captain of the 1999 Buckeyes before being selected in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers where he spent six seasons, collecting 12 career interceptions.
While Plummer certainly is deserving of the honor of Best Buckeye Ever to wear the No. 19, we are going with the multidimensional Tom Tupa who both punted and played quarterback for the Buckeyes from 1984-87.
Tupa is perhaps the greatest punter in Ohio State history, recording the top two punting seasons in terms of average in school history. His average yards per punt of 47.1 yards in 1984 still ranks as the best season in school history while his senior campaign ranks second, when he averaged 47.0.
Tupa's talent didn't just stop at punting however, as he won the starting quarterback job in 1987 as a senior in what would be Earle Bruce's final season. He threw for 1,786 yards and 12 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, and saved arguably his best performance for last. Against Michigan in Bruce's final game, Tupa completed 18-of-26 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns to zero interceptions.
He would go on to have a very productive NFL career, mostly as a punter. Tupa was drafted in the third round of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals, where he spent four of his 16 seasons in the league. While he would be named to a Pro Bowl in 1999 as a punter, Tupa also spent a portion of his professional career as a backup quarterback as well. He finished his NFL career with 3,430 passing yards and 12 touchdown passes to 25 interceptions as a quarterback.
As a punter, Tupa would go on to win a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2002-03 season before playing his final season in 2005 with the Washington Redskins.
Do you agree with our pick here at No. 19? Make sure to weigh in on our premium message boards. The full list of No. 19's at OSU can be found below.
Alexinas, Edward ..................... 1940
Andrews, David........................2001
Andrews, William .................1981-82
Archer, Stewart “Mickey”.... 1975-76
Barre, B.J............................ 2000-01
Bender, Edward A. ................... 1968
Bliss, Keith H. ...................... 1937-38
Boone, Le Andre..................... 2002
Canestraro, Joe ........................1987
Conley, Gareon ....................2013-14
Glover-Williams, Eric................ 2015
Graham, Taylor..................... 2010-11
Harden, Derek ...................2004-06
Hill, Steve ................................. 1983
Howell, Carroll ....................1952-54
Johnson, Orhian...2008-09-10-11-12
Jones, Demetrius......................1997
Karcher, James N................1934-35
Kilgore, David S. .................1958-59
Klein, Robert J.....................1960-62
Knisley, Heath .......................... 1995
Maloney, Robert....................... 1938
Lamka, Donald.....................1969-71
Lord, James ............................. 1956
Orosz, Thomas.................... 1977-80
Payne, Aaron.............................1991
Plummer, Ahmed.................1995-99
Purdy, David D......................1972-74
Ramstetter, Joe...............2013-14-15
Ratliff, Eli................................... 2012
Russell, Matt............................ 2002
Starks, Eric............................... 1993
Tupa, Thomas...................... 1984-87
Underwood, Brandon ........2004-06
Washington, Taurian ................2007
